REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONVENE A SHARED DECISION MAKING COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP AN ACTION PLAN TO ESTABLISH A K-12 KAIAPUNI SCHOOL IN KAPOLEI.

SR153

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

153

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING the department of education to convene a
shared-decision making committee to develop an action plan to establish a k-12 kaiapuni
school in Kapolei.

����
WHEREAS, the
State has a duty to ensure access to
ʻ
Ōlelo Hawai
ʻ
i
education pursuant to article
X, section 4, of the Constitution of the State of Hawai
ʻ
i, which requires the State to
"promote the study of Hawaiian culture, history, and language"; and

����
WHEREAS, the
establishment of Kaiapuni schools, or Hawaiian language immersion schools,
which educate in
ʻ
Ōlelo Hawai
ʻ
i, is one way the State is
intentionally adhering to its constitutional obligations and fulfilling its
commitment to preserving Hawaiian language for future generations
; and

����
WHEREAS,
accordingly, the Board of Education is implementing a Kaiapuni Strategic Plan
to grow Kaiapuni programs to meet demand and expand access across the State;
and

����
WHEREAS, there
are only three Kaiapuni schools on O
ʻ
ahu
that serve students in grades kindergarten through twelve, Ke Kula Kaiapuni
ʻ
O P
ū
ʻ
ōhala
and Ke Kula
ʻ
O Samuel M. Kamakau in Kāne
ʻ
ohe and
Ke Kula Kaiapuni
ʻ
O
Ānuenue in Honolulu
; and

����
WHEREAS,
Kapolei High School currently only offers Kaiapuni education for grade nine,
and Kapolei Middle School only offers Kaiapuni education for grades seven and eight;
and

����
WHEREAS, many
students in the
ʻ
Ewa
land district and the surrounding land districts of Wai
ʻ
anae and Waialua are forced to commute to

Honolulu to pursue Kaiapuni
education
; and

����
WHEREAS, forty-two
percent of Ke Kula Kaiapuni
ʻ
O

Ānuenue students who
travel to school come from the
ʻ
Ewa and Wai
ʻ
anae areas
; and

����
WHEREAS, this
creates significant barriers for students in continuing Hawaiian language
education and leaves many students who reside outside of Honolulu without a
clear pathway to continue their Kaiapuni education cohesively and throughout
high school; and

����
WHEREAS, the
neighborhood boards of Pearl City, Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale, and
ʻ
Ewa have all adopted
resolutions in support of establishing a K-12 self-contained Hawaiian immersion
school in Kapolei; and

����
WHEREAS, a
shared decision-making committee is a collaborative process where stakeholders
collectively make decisions and facilitate planning; and

����
WHEREAS,
establishing a shared decision-making committee comprised of Hawaiian immersion
educators, community members, parents, and administrators will facilitate
effective action planning and resource allocation as well as ensure the K-12 Kaiapuni
in Kapolei meets the unique needs of current and future students; now,
therefore,

����
BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education is requested
to convene a shared decision-making
committee to
develop an action plan to establish a K-12 Kaiapuni school in Kapolei; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the shared decision-making committee is requested to consist of eleven
members, serving for two-year terms, as follows:

����
(1)
�
The Superintendent of Education, or the
Superintendent's designee;

����
(2)
�
Principals from relevant middle schools and
high schools, such as Kapolei Middle School and Kapolei High School, or their
designees;

����
(3)
�
Three current Kaiapuni teachers from schools
such as:

���������
(A)
�
Kapolei Middle School;

���������
(B)
�
Kapolei High School; and

���������
(C)
�
A feeder elementary immersion school such as
Waiau Elementary School or N
ānākuli
Elementary School
;

����
(4)
�
The Dual Chancellor for Leeward Community
College and the University of Hawai
ʻ
i-West
O
ʻ
ahu, or the Chancellor's
designee;

����
(5)
�
A professor or administrator from either
Leedward Community College or the University of Hawai
ʻ
i-West O
ʻ
ahu
with experience in education and teacher training; and

����
(6)
�
Three community members as follows:

���������
(A)
�
Two members of relevant community-based,
school-based, or cultural nonprofit organizations; and

���������
(B)
�
One parent of a current student of Ke Kula
Kaiapuni
ʻ
O
Kapolei; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the action plan is requested to outline goals, objectives, and
strategies necessary to achieve a new Kaiapuni K-12 school in Kapolei, including,
but not limited to, the following:

����
(1)
�
Facility planning and site selection;

����
(2)
�
Kumu Kaiapuni recruitment and retention;

����
(3)
�
Curriculum and instruction planning;

����
(4)
�
Resource allocation policies;

����
(5)
�
Recommendations to the Department of Education
to standardize, streamline, and facilitate the establishment or expansion of
new or existing Kaiapuni schools statewide; and

����
(6)
�
Any additional policies as determined by the
shared decision-making committee; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the action plan is requested to include a process for phasing in Kaiapuni
education by:

����
(1)
�
Securing a permanent site for a K-12 Kaiapuni school
in Kapolei to be used by kindergarten, first, and second grades by the 2027-2028
school year;

����
(2)
�
Integrating grades three, four, five, and six
by the 2028-2029 school year; and

����
(3)
�
Integrating middle school and high school
students once all other grades are phased in; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to allocate four faculty
positions and one administrative position to support Kaiapuni education in the
2027-2028 school year and additional faculty and administrative positions in
the following school years based on enrollment numbers of current and potential
Kaiapuni students that live in the
ʻ
Ewa,
Waialua, and Wai
ʻ
anae
land districts; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the decision-making committee is requested to submit a report of
its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the
Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular
Session of 2027; and

����
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson
of the Board of Education; Superintendent of Education; Dual Chancellor for Leeward
Community College and the University of Hawai
ʻ
i-West
O
ʻ
ahu; and Campbell-Kapolei
Complex Area Superintendent.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:
�

Kaiapuni
Education; Shared Decision-making Committee; Department of Education; Kapolei